Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

seldom met with-time for everything, and always ready. In private life he was naturally of a happy, merry disposition; all his life an abstainer, and regular in his habits.

In 1881 his strength began to fail very much-to go from his home to Cambridge Street Church was now too far for him. He therefore joined Lansdowne U. P. Church, and worshipped there when able to walk the distance. For the last two years he became very frail, though seldom long at a time confined to his house. For some time before he died he had a great desire to worship in the church of his childhood, and two Sabbaths before his death he went to it. Dr. Logan Aikman, who is now the minister, preached-this was the last time Mr. Stewart was anywhere at public worship. He was out as usual on the Monday before his death-returned home very exhausted-did not as usual pick up his strength, but gradually grew weaker. By the Friday about midnight he became very weak, though quite sensible, it was with difficulty his voice could be heard so as to make out what he said. The breathing also was so feeble that it scarcely could be noticed. At 8.50 a.m. on Saturday, the 18th April, 1885, his family with him, his breathing stopped for a second or two, and resumed for about a minute, then, without a movement of face or muscle, stopped for ever.

Thus peacefully, at the advanced age of 88 years, did this venerable believer pass into the immediate presence of his Father in heaven, whose service, for such a long period, seemed to be to him but a continual source of the truest joy.

[ocr errors]

Cast thy Bread upon the Waters."

CAST thy bread upon the waters

Of the world's great yearning soul;
Cast it forth in joy and gladness,
Though the elements warring roll;
Though in death's night the prospect be
Hid in dark clouds and mystery,

Still in thy labour hopeful be;

Knowing well, in your noble faith,
That nought of good abides in death.

Then, cast bread of God's salvation

On the wave to every nation;
Cast it broadcast, and cast it free,
In tiny brook and vastly sea;
And doubt not that in after days
Sweet increase to thy God 'twill raise.

HERBERT DALE.

Notices of Books.

THE LORD'S SUPPER Explained to Young Communicants. By MARCUS DODS, D.D. New edition. Glasgow: J. N. Mackinlay, 421 Sauchiehall Street.

IN this little book of 20 pages we have a most admirable exposition of the design and nature of the Lord's Supper. Taking the answer given in the Shorter Catechism to the question, What is a Sacrament? Dr. Dods proceeds to give an exceedingly clear description of the feast of the Passover, and the solemn circumstances in which Christ and His disciples were placed on the night of its observance. The two following extracts will give an idea of the way in which the subject is treated: "We may not understand how the dead bread which we eat becomes life in us, and enables us to think, to feel, to move; neither may we fully understand how Christ can become a living spirit in us, sustaining, sanctifying, quickening. But the result stands an incontestable fact, whether we understand the process or no: 'He that eateth me,' says Christ, 'even he shall live by me. What, then, does this eating represent in the Lord's Supper? Eating, taken largely, is that process by which food becomes assimilated to our body. The most nutritious food will do us no good if we only look at it, or describe the process of digestion. We must eat it. And when our Lord chooses this forcible figure as descriptive of the process by which He imparts life to us, He means that He must come into the closest possible contact with us. We must use means to get all the good out of Him that is possible. Does His death atone for sin? Then, we 'eat His flesh' when we receive from God forgiveness for our sins for Christ's sake. Does His Spirit renew and purify the nature? Then, we eat the flesh of Christ when we so truly give ourselves up to Him that

His Spirit becomes ours. Is there in Christ all that constitutes spiritual life-love to God and man, hope of immortality, meekness, fearlessness, and purity? Then, we eat His flesh when we are so His as to partake of these things. To eat Christ's flesh is to believe in Him, to use Him as our own Redeemer, to become His wholly, and to make Him wholly ours. "The Sacrament bears to the preached or written Word the same relation that a seal bears to the document to which it is attached. When only a few educated men were able to sign their names, seals with the owner's crest upon them were used as signatures, and when affixed to a document were evidence that it was approved by the party sealing it. The seal attached to a deed of conveyance, or a will, or a charter, was useless without the document. It was in the document one had to look to discover the nature and extent of the grant or sale; it was there that a minute and unmistakable description was given of the properties or articles sold or given. But the seal confirmed the deed of conveyance or bequest which the document described. It added nothing to the description, and gave nothing which the deed did not give, but it confirmed it and gave it validity. So the Sacrament seals the Word, giving you no new information, not enlarging the blessings conferred by Christ, not adding anything at all to God's gifts to you, but only making you surer of it, and helping you to take a better hold of it. By the Word you have salvation; through God's offer made to you in the Word you receive Christ, and beyond Christ there is no blessing you can desire." We have many treatises on this Sacrament, but we do not think any of them surpass this one of Dr. Dods' for freshness, brevity, and clearness. It is worthy of a wide circulation.

CATECHISM ON THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. By Rev. R. Lawson, Maybole. Paisley: J. & R. Parlane. (Price 1d. 32 pp.)

TEACHERS of senior classes are sometimes at a loss for a fresh, useful, and Scriptural course of exercises. Mr. Lawson has provided a most excellent one in the small Catechism before us. The difference between natural and spiritual life is first made clear, and by means of answers to questions, exceedingly well put, the progress and principal characteristics of the Christian life are described in language that is often literally Scriptural; and yet the passages are often set in a connection, and in such an order, that they will appear in a new light to many ordinary scholars. How the Christian life may be deepened, enlarged, and sustained, are amongst the most important sections of the book. We recommend it heartily.

FULNESS OF JOY. With preface by the REV. CHARLES A. Fox. London: Hodder & Stoughton. [199 pp.; cloth, 3s 6d.]

THE Complete title of this volume is "Fulness of Joy in True Knowledge of the Will of God," and this possibly is the best description that can be given, in few words, of this valuable book. The subject is one of great importance and sublimity. It is handled carefully and exhaustively. The author gathers into one focus all the verses of the Bible relating to the Will of God, and thus wondrous light is shewn upon it, its nature and requirements, and above all upon the perfect exposition of it given by the Lord Jesus in His life upon earth, and also upon the manner in which the hearts of God's children

are moulded by that Will into oneness with Him, and made ready for the mysteries of its love to be, in due time, revealed to them. The reader who sits down to the perusal of this book in a thoughtful, reverential spirit, will find in it the richest treasures.

FRIENDLY LETTERS. By V. M. S. Issued under the auspices of the Friendly Letter Mission. London: Jarrold & Son, 3 Paternoster Buildings. [Each, 8 pp., at d.; or in packets of 12, at 6d. 27 in one vol., cloth, 2/.]

THE writer of these Letters, Miss Skinner, Bath, began her efforts for the benefit of others by first visiting public-houses, hanging up texts, and, by going amongst the people assembled, endeavouring to interest them in higher things than worldly enjoyments and pleasures. Her man. ner and tact in doing the work were such that, instead of being repelled, her visits were soon enjoyed and anxiously waited for. After personal visiting, she addressed a series of letters to the publicans, and many other classes of tradesmen-such as cabmen, policemen, railway porters, guards, shepherds, ministers, ploughmen, medical men, grooms, fishermen, organists, gamekeepers, labourers' wives, barmaids in hotels, merchants, prison officials, &c., &c. The letters are full of deep sympathy and true piety, and their comprehensiveness is not less remarkable than their strong common sense and shrewdness. Christian workers will find in them many valuable hints; and as a means of reaching those who cannot be personally or conveniently dealt with, a selection from the series could be used with every reason to hope for the best results.

Men do things which their fathers would have deprecated, and then draw about themselves a flimsy cordon of sophistry, and talk about the advance of humanity and liberal thought, when it is nothing after all but a preference for individual license.-Rev. John Hall,

vener;

Intelligence.

with success during the session. The following were appointed representatives to the General Union :-Messrs. John Morison, John Smith, Robert Agnew, J. M. Bryce, George Carrick, George Bathgate, Jas. C. Duff, with the two secretaries-Messrs. Wm. Anderson and Sam. A. C. Todd. SOUTH-EASTERN DISTRICT UNION.

GLASGOW SABBATH SCHOOL UNION. -The monthly meeting of Directors was held in the Christian Institute on Monday, 11th May, John Ingram, Esq., one of the vice-presidents, in the chair. There were 44 Directors present. Reports were read from the South-Eastern, NorthEastern, Middle, Southern, and Cambuslang District Unions. The fol--The directors of this Union met on lowing committees were elected for Tuesday, 28th April, Mr. P. B. the ensuing year :-Publications, Mr. Bryce, president, occupied the chair, James Richmond, convener; Statis- and there were 24 Directors present. tics, Mr. James Macnair, convener; Reports were given in of the proSenior Scholars, Mr. J. M. Storrar, ceedings of the General Union, also convener; Local Unions, Mr. James by School Visitors and several comRichmond, convener; Music, Mr. mittees. Representatives to the James Smith, convener; Public Meet- General Union for 1885-6 were apings, Mr. Robert Baird, convener; pointed, also the conveners and varAnnual Collection, Mr. James Smith, ious committees for the ensuing year. convener; Teachers' Examinations, CAMBUSLANG SABBATH SCHOOL Mr. Thomas Gray, convener; Confer-UNION.-The sixth annual meeting ences, Mr. William Bertram, con- of this Union was held in the Free Sabbath Observance, Mr. Church Hall on the 7th April. The William Kirkland, convener; Train- president, Mr. Robert Paterson, ing Classes, Mr. Peter MacKichan, occupied the chair. There was a convener ; Bands of Hope, Mr. good attendance of teachers; and Alexander Black, convener; Evan- there were also present the Rev. gelistic Effort in conjunction with the Robert Blair, M.A., Rev. John Foundry Boys Religious Society, Mr. Elder, and Messrs. James Richmond Thomas H. Watson, convener. On and John Ingram from the General the suggestion of the Southern Dis- Union. After tea the chairman trict Union the Directors remitted gave an introductory address, and to the Teachers' Examination Com- later on in the evening, a report of mittee to consider the expediency of his visits to the various schools of formulating a uniform scheme of the Union. The annual report was Scholars' Examinations for the Union read by Mr. Hugh MacFarlane, the which could be adopted and the secretary. details carried out by the various District and affiliated Unions, or by individual Sabbath School Societies. MIDDLE DISTRICT UNION.-This Union met in the Religious Institution Rooms on the 14th April-15 representatives being present. In the absence of the President, Mr. Robert Coats occupied the chair. It was agreed to hold the half-yearly prayer meeting on or about the second Sabbath of May. It was reported that the Teachers' Preparatory Meetings had been attended

Mr. Thomas Ingram, treasurer, submitted the financial statement. Mr. John Ingram, in moving the adoption of the report and financial statement, and Mr. Robert Cairns, in seconding them, gave some interesting information as to the condition of Sabbath schools a quarter of a century ago. Messrs. Hutchinson, Morrison, Gray, Baird, and Burnett, took part in the proceedings. The office-bearers for 1885-86 were elected as under,viz., Messrs. Alex. Hood, President; Murdoch Morrison, Vice-President;

Robert Baird, Secretary; John MacFarlane, Hallside, Treasurer; Robert Cairns, Thomas Ingram, and the Secretary, as representatives to the Glasgow Union.—The quarterly prayer meeting of the Union was held in the Free Church Hall, on Sabbath evening, 10th May. Mr. Hood presided, and Messrs. D. C. Adamson, Andrew M'Lachlan, and Robert Paterson, conducted the exercises.

CALTON PARISH CHURCH SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY.-On Tuesday, 21st April, Mr. D. L. Francis, M.A., was presented with a writing desk and a number of valuable books, in the name of the Sabbath school teachers and members of the Band of Hope, as a token of regard and esteem for his valuable services as a school teacher and chairman of the Band of Hope. The Rev. Mr. Murray, in making the presentation, stated that Mr. Francis had pushed himself forward in a remarkable manner, having had many difficulties to overcome. After leaving school he had served his apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker, but again re-entered school, and shortly thereafter passed from school to college, from college to divinity hall, and by his perseverance and energy he had now brought himself so far forward that in the course of a few weeks he would be licensed as a minister of the Gospel; and even before receiving license he would be appointed assistant to the Rev. A. M. Lang, B.Sc., of the High Church, Paisley. Mr. Francis acknowledged the presentation in suitable terms. Another teacher connected with this school, Mr. David Brown, was recently presented by his class with a handsome Oxford Bible, suitably inscribed, as a mark of their esteem.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.-This Union met on Monday, 4th May-Mr. R. B. Smith, president, in the chair. Twenty-eight representatives present. The Visiting Committee reported as to the schools visited

during the winter. The Chairman reported that he found in the course of his visitation that the infant class scheme of lessons prepared by the General Union was not used by the teachers on the South Side to any great extent, and he pointed out the benefit they would derive by adopt ing it. It was found also, in the course of his visitation, that a few schools had examination schemes for the scholars, and it was thought that the Union might take it up so as to embrace all the schools in the district. The General Union to formulate the scheme, and each District or Local Union to pay their own expenses in connection with it. The various committees were appointed for the ensuing year, and the following gentlemen were elected as representatives to the General Union :

viz, Messrs. J. Shannon, J. Lyle, J. Paterson, Joseph Crosbie, Alex. Wallace, John S. Paterson, Wm. R. Calder, Andrew Crawford, with Messrs. James C. Leechman and George Leitch, jun., secretaries.

NORTH-EASTERN SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.—The annual meeting of this Union was held in the Hall of Sydney Place U. P. Church, on Tuesday, 14th April,-Mr. A. Á. Haddin presiding. The annual reports were submitted by Mr. Charles Rigg, secretary, Mr. Wm. R. Pearson, convener of Visitation Committee, and Mr. James Smith, treasurer. The Rev. Samuel Harding and Mr. P. B. Bryce moved the adoption of the reports, and the election of the office-bearers,-viz., President, Mr. Andrew A. Haddin; Vice-President, Mr. Samuel Patmore; Treasurer, Mr. James M'Cash; Secretaries, Messrs. Charles Rigg and W. R. Pearson. The Rev. Wm. Arnott gave a thoughtful address on Conditions of Success." The choir of Wellpark Free Church led the praise, and sang a selection of anthems:-The directors met on Monday, 20th April. The various committees were re-adjusted. Mr. Haddin sub

66

« VorigeDoorgaan »